Jeep Wagoneer
Just to warn you, this post will be a good bit more maudlin and personal than usual. If you're not in the mood for that, I'd advise you to check back tomorrow for the normal dose of automotive irrelevancy usual in this space. If you want to stick with this, just bear with me--I'll get to the Wagoneer eventually.
My maternal grandfather died in 2006. It was one of those situations where everybody agreed that it was for the best, because his quality of life had deteriorated somewhat in the final year or so, but yet we all knew it wasn't for the best for us, because we had lost a great man who we all loved.
My grandfather was one of those rare people who bring absolute decency to every moment of their lives. He was polite without being weak; thoughtful without putting on airs; earnest without being boring; and funny without being loud or hurtful. He could dissolve a room in laughter with his bone-dry quips (often exchanged in rapid fire with my VW Rabbit-ice racing uncle), but he was never thoughtless and abhorred flashy loudmouths. He read Louis L'Amour books and was both as taciturn and as mentally strong as any L'Amour hero. Everything about my grandfather was substance. For a young boy growing up, trying to learn how to be a good man, he was a fantastic role model.
My grandfather found his perfect automotive analogue in the straightforward, honest, and capable Jeep Wagoneer. He was a Wagoneer guy through and through. He owned at least five, possibly six, different Wagoneers over the course of several decades. Inspired by his example, my parents owned one, my uncle owned one, and my paternal grandmother owned two.
The Wagoneer was produced with remarkably few revisions from 1963 to 1991, through four separate decades and three different corporate parents (Willys/Kaiser, AMC, and Chrysler). Most agree that it was the original SUV.
Like today's SUVs, the Wagoneer had a five-door configuration and could carry a family in relative comfort, as well as cargo in abundance. However, in stark contrast to today's posh car-based SUVs, the Wagoneer was a demon off-road, tough as nails, and so solid that it was seemingly hewn from granite. It was so tough that my parents skipped out of their high school homecoming dance to go snowdrift-busting during a blizzard in one of my grandfather's early Wagoneers. Evidently this is what passed for fun in 1968 South Dakota.
I like my trucks unashamed of their truckishness; the Wagoneer is tough, stylish in a bluff, straightforward way, and eminently useful, with no pretensions of being a car. It was perfect for my grandfather.
Obviously, Wagoneers are near and dear to me; I would love to own one. On my grandfather's passing, I wanted to purchase his Wagoneer, but I ran into some difficulties. Namely, I ran into a sinister cabal made up of my grandmother, my mother, and my wife, who all agreed that the Wagoneer was too unreliable and too expensive for my young family.
Too unreliable? Too inexpensive to maintain? They made the Wagoneer sound like an incredibly dangerous vehicle, carved haphazardly from plutonium by mental patients, and with high explosives strapped under each seat.
Compared to a Toyota Camry, perhaps that's true, but I'm on record as lusting after Citroens, Fiats, MGs, Saabs, Renaults, and Alfa Romeos. In that context, the Wagoneer runs like an atomic clock. However, the cabal swatted that argument down with many words of one syllable apiece, delivered with incredible force and authority. So, unfortunately, my pursuit of a Wagoneer with which I can carry on the family tradition will need to wait for another time.
Wagoneers do have a cult following and are still fairly common in places where rugged strength and traction are necessary--primarily in cold-weather areas, and close to the wilderness. Many have been worked hard and been harshly treated, but there are companies that refit, refinish, and restore Wagoneers to sell as basically brand new vehicles.
A few years ago when I was noodling around looking for a nice used Wagoneer to buy, I stumbled across Wagonmasters, which completely refits and sells Jeep wagons. At first the prices took my breath away--$30,000 for a 20-year-old used Jeep?--but the Wagoneers they sell really do look and run like they are brand new. GrandWagoneer.com seems to offer a similar service, with a similarly obsessive attention to detail. Evidently I'm not the only loon out here with a passion for Wagoneers.
Most people seem to prefer the last Grand Wagoneers made, with wood side trim and power windows and locks. I think the most attractive Wagoneers are those from the 1970s and 1980s, just because the lines are so clean and uncluttered. Really, though, the Wagoneer changed so little in its 28-year run that if you like one of them, you'll probably like all of them.
The top pictures here are from a particularly pretty red '86 Wagonmaster woodie that is the spitting image of my grandfather's last Wagoneer. The remaining woodie photos are example photos from GrandWagoneer.com, and the bottom wagon is actually a '77 Wagonmaster Cherokee that is as representative of anything I could find of an older Wagoneer.
--Chris H.
VieuxNaCl on March 07, 2008 at 06:52 AM
Grew up with these, towing horses, boats, trailers full of oranges through sugar sand in central FL. We used to fight over who was going to get out and lock the hubs. I remember when Quadra-Track shift on the fly came out and we decided aginst it as the old timers claimed it was unreliable and failed when you needed it. My brother ended up with the truck which still pulls duty in upstate New York. I ended up with old P-38 Rovers for my family, largely owing to the GW derived desire for a real truck that could also haul the family around in comfort. I never understood what Jeep was thinking when they discontinued the model. Don't even get me started on the hideous Commander.
Eric on March 07, 2008 at 06:57 AM
I have gone snowdrift-busting in a rear-wheel drive 1978 Chrysler Cordoba with a 400 cubic inch engine.
It was awesome.
(Of course, Pennsylvania snowdrifts probably aren't as large as South Dakota ones.)
John on March 07, 2008 at 08:01 AM
I drive a '91 Bronco for the same reasons you love the Wagoneer. It's not an SUV, it's a TRUCK, and like the Wagoneer and the Chevy Blazer, it was pounding rocks into dust before today's weenie SUVs were even thought of. Too bad they were so good at doubling as cars that they spawned the SUV fad that spelled their doom.
I was especially fond of Cherokee Chief version of the Wagoneer. The Cherokee back then was just a 2-door version of the Wagoneer and the Chief came with fat tires on wagon wheels and loud paint, just the kind of thing an 17-year-old goes big for. Too bad my father forbade us to own anything AMC. Hence the Bronco.
Josh on March 07, 2008 at 08:52 AM
All sorts of good in this blog post, don't worry about it.
Your grandfather reminds me of mine. He is still ticking, and driving (passed his driver's course last year with flying colors) at 90. And the man I want to be at his age.
As for the Wagoneer; we had one. In Alaska. And it was one worn out beast. By worn out, the wheel wells on top were rotted out from the salt on the roads (and being taken on the beach so much) that from the rocks thrown through them, and hence, we had to put blankets over them because of the window chipping on the inside, and the headliner being so beat up. The doors wouldn't close all the time. One of my sisters flew out the door into a snowbank on a turn (not very fast, luckily) and the bottom was so rotted out one of my brothers fell out through the floor while we were driving.
Still started and ran every day. Still got us where we needed to go, down to -40 degrees. Brutal, went every where, towing boats, busting snow, down forgotten dirt roads, hitting parts of the beach other people couldn't get to, with all 5 of us kids aboard (when we didn't fall out of the vehicle.)
It was a great vehicle. Very worthy of lust, solely for it's ability to haul everybody anywhere we wanted to go, in any weather.
Good post.
LarryD on March 29, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Brings back memories of my Dad and maternal Grandad. Lost gramps in '78 and dad in '80. What a loss to the gene pool. Grandpa was an orphan who ran away from the orphanage when he was 10, in Missouri. Raised himself living off the land in the Dakota territory. Produced a family of four happy gentle people. Self educated with encyclopedias and National Geographic magazine. Beautiful penmanship and could build you an electric lightbulb that worked using two pieces of wood and a piece of string. Tough as nails to boot. A hard man when necessary. Inventive, he was.
Dad on the otherhand wasn't much of a tech but was a career military warrior of the old school. He also had a dry sense of humor to be envied. Tell you a joke on Monday and come Friday, you finally realized you'd been had.............. BIG time.
Yes, I understand your feelings toward your grandpa.
My love affair with Grand Wagoneers began years before I could drive. Mine was the first owned in the family though and I just got it 6 years ago. I'm 59 now. Due to Uncle Sam commitments, I am just now bringing it back from the dead. New engine and seats, rub out of the paint (until a paint job is affordable) looks pretty good. These are tough loveble trucks with no apology to be made for the designation 'truck'.
Love the site. Love old cars and trucks.
Matt Scharkozy on June 02, 2008 at 01:52 PM
I have a beautiful 1977 Wagoneer I'm selling. I LOVE this car, but I have to move to the city and need to sell it.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/car/701734338.html
grandwagoneers.com on June 23, 2008 at 08:54 AM
I really enjoyed your writing and your memories. I have devoted myself to preserving as many Grand Wagoneers as I can. The people I buy them from and the people who own them are special characters. Most of them name their GW. ALL of them are proud of theirs and enjoy the smiles and comments they get out and about.
I have geared my business to parts WITH INSTRUCTIONS so that the owner can DIY. This not only saves hundreds of misdirected mechanics fees, but it also bonds the owner with his car.
My free advice answers from 50-100 emails a day.
This is a special car, an American icon as much as Coca Cola. Let's pledge to keep as many on the roads harvesting smiles from all quarters.
Saul
Brian Barrantes on July 06, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Your comments touched me incredibly. I also lost my father in March of 2006,and your kind comments could have described him also. He also had a soft spot for the wagoneer, although he only owned two. His first was a 1968 Super Wagoneer. We drove it from Indiana to Mexico city where we would be stationed.His next was a 1971 special edition. I remember them both having bucket seats and shifter on the console. This was the first car I snuck out of the garage to try my hand at driving. In 2005 I bought a cherry 89 Grand Wagoneer with 57,000 miles for him to drive to the grocery store. A week before I gave it to him he called me to tell me he would no longer be driving since he had just been diagnosed with alzheimer's. He was gone a year later. I miss him terribly, but I still have photos of our camping trip in our Super wagoneer.
Dee Temples on August 08, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Wonderful story. As several people have alluded to here, these are special vehicles, which register emotionally with us, because they serve as links to a past generation of gentlemen / sportsmen.
As a young kid in the Outer Banks of NC, I remember the friendly retired men who surf-fished from their hard-earned Wagoneers. I remember my grandfather telling me "that man is a doctor....that man managed a factory...etc." Many of these guys were self-made men who came of age in the depression, fought in WWII, and came home to modestly build successful lives.
Bottom line - - an iconic vehicle of the late 20th century
Shawn Spencer on September 09, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I was told that I have one of the BEST Grand Wagoneer (Woody's) in all of Southern California/Los Angeles.
Jim Franz on September 20, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Great site! I just purchased my 5th Wagoneer. It's a white '88 and is the best one I've had. My wife & daughter now are certain I have completely lost it. These vehicles just have that unmistakable persona that only the wisest person can understand. It's a sickness really. Severe rust issues is my biggest complaint. Only true classic style, design & function could last nearly three decades, and still be have a cult like following more than 17 years after the last one was built. NO other vehicle that I can think of is even close. Thanx again. Jim. PS: Get the Jeep!
Jen on September 24, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Great blog! My grandfather gave my cousin his 1979 Jeep Cherokee in the mid-80's. My cousin is thankfully terribly sentimental and still had the thing running when he gave it to me for my wedding a few weeks ago. My dad and I have been working on it (there is quite a bit of rust from a stent in the north, as well as some minor mechanical problems) for the past week and have been having a blast retelling stories about granddad and learning about this great car. Fortunately, my husband supports all of this because he is a vintage car lover himself and has spent years restoring a 1971 Cadillac. I hope that the ladies in your life can see the bright side at some point. These are truly great trucks.
Felecia Hodges on October 30, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Hi Chris, I came across your blog and would like to know if you could recommend a mechanic in the Woodland Hills California (91367) area to work on a 1991 Grand Wagoneer. I recently purchased one and would like to have a dependable mechanic in my area. Thanks for your time. Ciao
Susan on January 16, 2009 at 09:22 PM
Just came by this post - my boyfriend has always been a wagoneer lover. He has an '86 GW sitting at his home in Georgia. I have just purchased my first SJ - an 82 Cherokee Laredo.. it definitely needs work. But it was love at first sight. His name is Levi. Hopefully it won't be too long until it is drive-able, maybe 6 months or so, due to the neglect and abuse it sustained by its previous owner. Most of which is just the interior, and a few rust spots in the back. He'll be a great truck to have around, and one of the few here in San Diego. There's a few Grand Wagoneers, but from what I remember, the drivetrains were faulty on both. Mine is just missing its forward driveshaft, its air-cleaner assembly, and its steering wheel, otherwise it's in decent condition for 600$.
Samuel Wright on January 19, 2009 at 11:26 PM
OK... Reading this only reinforces my resolve. I have been wanting one of these beasties since I was a kid and a friend's father brought one home, brand new, back in the early 1970s.
Now, I have decided that I want a toy to take camping and on pleasant off-road trips. I am not looking to do any "boonie bouncing" like some people do. I decided a couple years ago that if I am going to buy a toy for that, it would have to be a Grand Wagoneer. They are awesome machines and they look like they could out pace many of the new 4x4s out there in a match. But there is also the LOOK. You see a Ford F150 drive down the street and you go "Eh...", but you see a good condition, and even some not so good, GW drive down the street, and people look. They have style.
Thanks for all the good reading you folks have put out. Any time I have a concern about buying one of these, I just read the posts like this and they go away.
wolf on March 12, 2009 at 08:00 AM
Liked the article. I currently own a cherokee chief 1980 two door which I've had for the last five years. It changed my life. I go camping in it with the rear seat removed and it carries my 14ft windurfer and all the gear. I love this car but unfortunately the previous owner treated it roughly and its got terminal rust. But just yesterday someone offered me a cheap deal on a wagoneer in beautiful condition with two other jeeps for spares, an I'm gong for it. By the way I also have my fathers 1980 Chrysler which he drove till he passed away. Despite a lot of haggling I was eventually able to buy it from the estate, it has a special meaning to me.
Mahmood-ul-Hassan Makhdoom on June 03, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have one wagoneer 25 years old but there is not available parts in Pakistan. This wagoneer is very strongest and powerfull vehicle. If you have new one vehicle in this type. Kindly immediate tell me wit price.
Awaiting your reply soonest.
Best Regards,
Mahmood
f hodges on August 29, 2009 at 08:55 PM
Does anyone know of a honest, good and dependable mechanic in the Woodland Hills are of California who works on Wagoneers?